If you value yourself, then its not an option you ever let go because that governs your ability to make good choices for yourself. In terms of receiving a caring quality from others, that's a word that can carry allot of different meanings depending on what your expectations are.

So for yourself what is the difference between say a family member that cares about you versus someone out in the wild you just met? When does the expectation kick in that a person you just met should become more and now care for you? How do you rationalize that exchange of words, actions, and deeds that says you now have reached that plateau?